‘The green lungs of the city need our help and support’
Plans to scrap the use of pesticides on Wearside and improve green spaces for future generations have been backed by city councillors.
The proposals received unanimous support at a meeting of Sunderland City Council as part of a drive to improve biodiversity and local ecosystems.
In coming years, the council will develop an action plan to eliminate pesticide use, including glyphosate, and encourage partners and the public to follow suit.
Council bosses also hope to develop a‘ wider pollination strategy’ to aid the regeneration and protection of habitats. Examples could range from the development of communityorchards, gardens and new wild flower programmes, to‘ re-wilding’ areas of the city.
The motion was launched by Labour councillor and cabinet member for children, learning and skills, Louise Far thing, at a council meeting last week and followed concerns from city residents.
This included fears about the use of pesticides such as glyphosate and “the impact they have on human, animal and environmental health through their use on our streets, housing estates, parks and gardens,” the motion states.
Cllr Rebecca Atkinson, cabinet member for Dynamic City, said the motion was an opportunity for the council to protect Sunderland and its residents while “leading by example and putting the green agenda firmly on the map.”
“We all want a clean, green and safe city and I feel this motion goes some way to achieve that,” she added.
“The green lung soft he city need our help, they need our support and they ultimately need our protection and with this motion we are ensuring our guardianship over those areas.”
Councillors noted the motion would build on the success of existing wildflower projects in the north area of the city.
Labour councillor Denny
Wilson, who chairs the council’s North Sunderland Area Committee, said all green spaces should be respected and that councillors and the public had a role to play in helping to improve them.
“We know the world is in an environmental crisis, it’s all over the media, children are being taught this in school and children are scared and they’re looking around to see what the responsible adults are doing,” he said.
The motion was backed by all political groups.